The Holy Spirit is the third Person of
the Trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
presented as a personal being with a self-identity that is different
from both the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit says "Set apart
for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which Ihave called them." (Acts 13:2)
Jesus said, "When He
comes . . .", in reference to sending the Holy Spirit.
There are some people
who deny that the Holy Spirit is a person. They site the following
reasons for this denial:
The Greek word for "Spirit" is
pneuma.
The word pneuma is a
non-specific gender pronoun. This means that it describes
neither masculine or feminine attributes.
Through the above stated facts they
say that the Holy Spirit is an "it" rather than a person.
They also state with this reasoning
that the Holy Spirit is not a distinct person.
These same people state that the
Holy Spirit is simply a creation of and an influence of God.
They are wrong!
Since the word pneuma is
not gender specific, any pronoun used in substitution of it should
also show the same neutral type of pronoun:
The Bible does not, in fact, use a
neutral pronoun (pneuma) when referring to the Holy
Spirit.
The Bible uses the Greek word
ekeinos, which is a masculine pronoun.
This word indicates the meaning of
"He", not "it."
Here are two examples of scripture
that show this truth as Jesus Himself stated:
26"When the
Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the
Spirit (pneuma) of truth who goes out from the Father,
He (ekeinos) will testify about Me.
John 15:26
13But when He
(ekeinos), the Spirit (pneuma) of truth, comes,
He (ekeinos) will guide you into all truth. He (ekeinos)
will not speak on His own; He (ekeinos) will speak only
what He (ekeinos) hears, and He (ekeinos) will
tell you what is yet to come.
John 16:13
The attributes of personality are
intellect, knowledge, mind, emotions, and will. The Bible makes it
obvious that the Holy Spirit manifests all five of these attributes.
Intellect:
The Holy Spirit does possess
intellect. This is evidenced in the fact that He searches all of
the deep things of God:
10 but God
has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches
all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians
2:10
Knowledge:
The Holy Spirit possesses all of the
knowledge of God.
11 For
who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's
spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the
thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians
2:11
Mind:
God knows the mind of the Holy
Spirit.
27 And
he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance
with God's will.
Romans 8:27
Emotion:
We, as believers. are commanded not
to grieve the Holy Spirit.
30 And
do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30
The Greek word lupeo is
translated as "grieve" and it has the meaning to cause distress,
sorrow, and/or sadness.
An "it" cannot have these
emotions, a person can.
Will:
There are two Bible scriptures that
clearly demonstrate the Holy Spirit's capability to make
sovereign choices and decisions.
The first example shows us that
the Holy Spirit decides and directs believers:
6
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of
Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit
from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
Acts 16:6
The second example clearly shows
that the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts on believers as
He wills:
11
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he
gives them (the giving of spiritual gifts) to each
one, just as he determines.
The Holy Spirit does not speak about Himself,
He testifies about Jesus:
26"When the Counselor
comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who
goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
John 15:26
The Holy Spirit teaches us:
26 But the Counselor, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26
The Holy Spirit gives life to the
believer:
63The Spirit gives
life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are
spirit and they are life. John 6:63
The Holy Spirit intercedes for us as we
pray:
26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know
what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with
groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:26
The Holy Spirit guides and instructs the
believer:
16 But when he, the Spirit of
truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his
own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet
to come. John
16:13
The Holy Spirit brings strength and
encouragement to the believer:
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and
Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by
the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Acts 9:31
The Holy Spirit sanctifies:
13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers
loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved
through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the
truth. 2
Thessalonians 2:13
